In Ebblingham Military Cemetery, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 21177 Private William Joseph Clark, serving with the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards who died 14/04/1918.
He was the son of George and Elizabeth Clark, of Radcliffe Cottages, Bamburgh, Northumberland.
In St. Aidan’s Churchyard is a family headstone for Clark which reads:
In loving memory of
Elizabeth Davidson
dearly beloved wife of
George Short Clark
who died at Bamburgh Nov. 3rd ?1933
aged 67 years
The above George Short Clark
died Nov.26th 1940 aged 81 years
Also of John Davidson who died June 2nd 1907 aged 12 years
and William Joseph
died of wounds in France April 14th 1918
aged 21 years.
sons of the above
Also their daughter
Hannah Middlemiss
who died Feb. 13th ?1984 aged 43 years
Safe in the arms of Jesus.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Joseph Clark was one of 6 children of whom only 5 survived.
His father George Short Clark who was born at Common Flat, Northumberland on August 30th 1859 married Elizabeth Davidson born in 1866 at All Saints, Newcastle upon Tyne on September 27th 1888.
The birth of their daughter Hannah Middlemas Clark was registered in the district of Edmonton, Middlesex in 1890, she was baptised by her parents on November 30th 1890 at St. John’s, Tottenham, Middlesex. Their son George was also registered at Edmonton in 1892 as was John Davidson Clark in 1895, William Joseph in 1897 and Annie Esther in 1899.
They were living at Thingoe in Suffolk when Mildred Gibbs Clark was born on February 4th 1907 but the joy of her birth was marred by the loss of their son John (12) on June 2nd 1907.
George Short Clark who had been employed as a cartman at Elwell Farm in the hamlet of Sewedstone in Essex had transferred his family by 1911 to Bamburgh, Northumberland where they occupied 5 rooms and he was working for his own account as a market gardener. George was assisted by William Joseph who was now the oldest still living at home.
As early as 1911 there were already rumblings of a possibility of war with Germany which was declared on August 4th 1914 when Germany ignored an ultimatum that she withdraw her troop from neutral Belgium.
Although William Joseph was residing in Bamburgh he listed at Gateshead, historically in County Durham and posted to the Coldstream Guards. As Private 12277 he departed to the front as of January 1916 where he joined the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guard which had been transferred from the 4th Guards Brigade, 2nd Division to the 1st Guards Brigade, Guards Division.
The Guards Division fought during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd and Morval September 25th-28th 1916 but did not take part in any other major battle on the Somme.
In 1917 it was involved during the Battle of Pilckem Ridge on the Ypres salient in Belgium on the first day of the 3rd Battle of Ypres July 31st-August 2nd. During the closing phase they saw action on October 9th at Poelcapelle, October 12th at the First Battle of Passchendaele. The division then returned to France participating at the Battle of Cambrai November 24th-December 3rd.
On February 8th 1918 the battalion was transferred to the 4th Guards Brigade, 31st Division and returned to the Somme when the Germans attacked once again on that front. The First Battle of the Somme took place from March 21st until April 4th 1918.
On April 14th 1918 during subsequent encounters Private 21177 William Joseph Clark died of wounds sustained on the battlefield as there is no record of him being admitted to any Field Ambulance or Casualty Clearing Station. Taken from the battlefield he was laid to rest within Ebblinghem Military Cemetery, Nord, France grave I. A. 26. Private Clark was 21 years old and single.
His mother Elizabeth as sole legatee received all monies due to her late son from the Army, his wards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal also a pension sent to her at Radcliffe Cottage, Bamburgh.
Elizabeth Clark nee Davidson (37) died on November 3rd 1933, widower George Short Clark (81) on November 26th 1940. They were buried in St. Aidan’s Churchyard, Bamburgh.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Joseph Clark is remembered at Bamburgh on B3.01, B3.02, B3.05 and B3.11, at Newcastle upon Tyne on NUT098 and on the Bellringers’ Roll of Honour at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.
